Air-cooling apparatus



mo Model) R1-S JENNINGS. v A vAIR COOLING APPARATUS. No. 254,981. v Patented MarpM, 1882.

' UNITED STATES PATENT Greece.

RALPH S. JENNINGS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Ala-coounc APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,931, dated March 14, 1882.

" Application filed August 10, L881. (No model.)

tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked then-on, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is an elevation, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a modification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for supplying apartments, sick-rooms, hospitals, buildings, 850., with pure cold air.

My improvementsconsist in the method or process of cooling and purifying the air by means of compressed air as acoolingagent, the same consisting in compressing air and forcing it 'into a chamber so as to surround the air which is led to the air cooling chamber.

My invention further consists in the combi. nation of one or more air-compressing cylinders, an air-reservoir, an operating-motor, and an air-expansion chamber.

My invention further consists in the combination ot one or more air-compression cylinders, an air-reservoir,an operating-motor, an air-expansion chamber a water box or pan, and its pipes. I

My invention further consists in the combination of one or more air compression cylinders with an air-reservoir with an operating-motor, an air-expansion chamber with a water box or pan provided with a pipe, and a coiled pipe arranged within the air-expansion chamber leading to an air-coolin g chamber.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter further described and specifically claimed.

In the annexed drawing, forming part of this specification,the letter A represents one or more air compressin g cylinders B, the air-reservoir, provided with the usual safety-valve and connections suitably mounted upon a platform. These compressing-cylinders and air-reservoir are connected together by pipes,substantiall y as shown. A

The letter 0 represents a crank-shaft snitably supported in hearings, to which. the piston-rods of the piston-heads are operated by a suitable motor, (designated by the letter D.)

The letter E represents an air-expanding chamber or vessel communicating with the airreservoir-B by means of the pipe or. This chamber is provided with an opening, I), for the escape of the compressed air. Within this chain.- her, preferably at its upper part, is located a water box or trough, G, of a suitable capacity, and provided with an inlet-pipe, c, which leads to the water-supply. The other end is provided with the pipe (7, having one or more bends. Thispipeleads to the air-cooling chamber F. 7

Within the air expanding chamber E is arranged a coiled pipe, H, having its bends vertical, or nearly so, and horizontal, substa'ntially as shown. One of the ends of this pipe H is connected to a blower or suction-fan for drawing in the air from an air-duct, and the other end of the said pipe being connected to the end of the air-cooling chamber E, which is provided with a series of vertical and longitudinal screens of terry fabric or Turkish toweling, and constructed substantially as shown and described in my application for Letters Patent of the United States filed August 2,188.1,and now pendingin the United States Patent Office. The water box or pan and the pipes arranged within the air-expanding chamber are made of thin metal, so that the expanded air can act more quickly in cooling the water and air.

Fig. 2 of the drawings shows a modification of the apparatus in which the water to be cooled is sprayed from the water boxorpan into theair-expantling chamber and the compressed air forced in at the bottom of the said chamber. The expanded air, coming in direct contactwith the falling spray of water, extracts the heat therefrom, and on its upward movement passes out at the top or side of the chamher.

The process of cooling air by this apparatus is as follows: The valve of the induction-pipe f, leading to the cylinder A, being properly adjusted,themotoris started,-whichcommunicates a vertical reciprocating motion to the pistonrods and their heads, which draws in the air within the cylinders, and in the downward movement of the piston-heads the air is driven from thecylinders through the connecting-pipes into the air-reservoir under compression, from which (the reservoir) it passes through the pipe ainto the air-chamber H, where it expands and surrounds the water box or pan and the coiled pipes, therein acting as a cooling agent. In other words, the heat is absorbed to a great extent from the water and the air on their way to the air cooling and purifying chamber I The water, after leaving the box G and passing through the pipe cl, is conducted to the top of the cooling'chamberF, whereit emptiesinto a perforated water tray or trough onto the fibrous screens, through which operation the screens become wet or saturated with the cool water, and as the air is forced through the coilpipe and enters one end of the cooling-chamber it is subdivided and passes onwardly between vertical longitudinal screens, thereby losing its impurities and becoming further cooled. The air in this condition leaves the air-cooling chamber F through the eductionpipe I into a flue or air-passage to the desired apartment.

in the spraying apparatus heretofore described the water is taken from the bottom of the air-expanding chamberaud passes through a suitable filter for purification, and thence to the top of the air-cooling chamber for wetting and saturating the fibrous screens. This process makes the cooling of air practical in countries where ice is not to be had, or where the cost of ice prevents the cooling of air economically. It also obviates the well known objections to the taste and odor of air or water cooled by direct contact with compressed air.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. The process or method of cooling air for apartments or buildings by means of a cooling agent, which consists in compressing the air, and then expanding it so as to surround and cool-a different current of air on its way to the apartment, substantially as described.

2. The method or process of cooling air for apartments or buildings by a cooling agent, which consists in compressing the air, and then expanding it so as to cool a bodyof water and a difterentcurrent of airon its way to the apartment.

3. The method or process of cooling and purifying air for apartments and similar purposes, which consists, first, in compressing air; second, expanding it in a. chamber; third, passing water through the air-expanding chamber, so as to be cooled for saturating or wetting fibrous material in an air-cooling chamber; fourth, in passing currents of difierent air through a pipe within an air-expandingchamher; and, finally, in passing the same through an air-cooling chamber for further cooling and purification, substantially as described. 4. In combination with a means for compressing air, a refrigerating-chamber through which passes the supplyof air, which is cooled without coming in direct contact with the expanded air, substantially as described.

5. The combination,in an apparatus for cooling air, of one or more air-compressing cylinders and an air-expanding chamber for acting upon the water on its way to an air-cooling chamber, substantially as described.

6. The combination,in an apparatus for cooling air, of one or more air-compressing cylinders, an air-reservoir, and an air-expanding chamber for acting upon the water on its way to an air-cooling chamber, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in an apparatus for cooling air, of one or more air-compressing cylinders, an air-reservoir, and an air-expanding chamber for acting upon the water and air on their way to an air-cooling chamber, substantially as described.

8. In combination with an air-compressing apparatus, an air-expanding chamber, provided with coils of pipe, and a water box or pan, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. The apparatus for cooling and purifying air, consisting of one or more air-compressing cylinders, an air-reservoir, an air-expanding chamber having arranged thereina water box or pan, an air-cooling pipe, and an air cooling and'purifying chamber, said parts being connected together for operation substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- RALPH S, JENNINGS.

Witnesses: I

J. M. YZNAGA, D. D. KANE. 

